Match Report
Tuesday 3rd December 2024
Brooks Mileson Memorial League Cup
North Shields 1-0 FC Hartlepool
‘Robins leave it late’
A cold night on North Tyneside, the visitors started the brighter of the two sides, knocking the ball around well in the early stages.
It took 5 minutes to pass before the Robins were able to create any real forward momentum, a neat move after winning possession back high up the pitch, the ball worked to Suddick, who played in Holmes who saw his effort blocked on the line.
Ben Harmison’s cross field pass, picked out Marrs down the right, bringing the ball down on his chest, driving into the penalty area, squaring to Waldon, who turned and shot only to see his effort deflected over the top.
At the other end, the second division outfit kept the Robins on their toes, forcing a great save out Curran to deny them the lead.
Half an hour played, the visitors best chance of the half came from turning defence into attack, the effort flashed across the face of goal.
With the pressure continuing from the visitors, a corner kick right on half time swung into the penalty area, the ball pinging about before a shot from the edge of the area, blocked well, and shouts for handball waved away.
A solid first half of football from both teams, competitive and good chances created but somehow still goalless at the break.
A double change at halftime saw Euan Anderson and Lee Mason replace Darren Lough and Dan Waldon.
The Robins going straight onto the attack from restart, an early corner, cleared well by the visitor’s.
Another double change early in the second half saw Dean Holmes and Ryan Carr withdraw with Nick Cassidy and Jordan Lashley introduced to the action.
The game very much in the balance, the visitors whisted an effort just wide of Curran’s upright.
The best so far fell to Lewis Suddick inside the penalty area, an inch perfect cross picking him out, he looked to caress the ball first time only to his effort clear the bar from 6 yards out to his own disbelief and the brave souls in attendance.
RED CARD – FC HARTLEPOOL – NATHAN BAYES ‘64
A potential turning point in the game, the visitor’s reduced to 10 men, Suddick racing through the middle of the pitch with options either side, scythed down from behind, no hesitation from the match official with the red card brandished.
The Robins with man advantage looked to make the most of the extra body, Ben Harmison denied first, rising highest to connect with a Cassidy cross, his effort blocked and cleared.
The Robins fought they had taken the lead, a good run from Lashley, the ball played into the middle and turned home, only to see the effort ruled out as the ball was judged to have gone out of play and a corner kick was awarded instead. The resulting corner cleared well after more determined defending from the visitors.
Briggs was on hand once again, this time denying Euan Anderson after a mazy run into the penalty area.
With time running out, the Robins continued to knock on the door, McCamley causing havoc down the left, able to pick out Mason in the middle, who was unable to keep his effort down.
The dogged determined defending from the visitors continued and when the Robins did not an effort on target, FC Hartlepool’s custodian George Briggs was on hand to deny Lashley, a fierce first time volley which looked to destined for the back of the net, was somehow kept out by Briggs with a superb one handed reaction save to keep the effort out.
The pressure continued to build up and somehow the visiting defence continued to stand strong, yet another clearance denying the Robins after a surging run from Lashley.
At the other end, Curran alert and on hand to deny the visitor’s a late winner with a much required save.
Into added time, the Robins looking for a winner, Nick Cassidy tried his luck from distance but was not able to find the required connection to beat Briggs.
GOAL NORTH SHIELDS 1-0 FC Hartlepool – Jordan Lashley 90’+5
The game looking destined to go to a penalty shoot out with time running out, just enough on the clock for one last attack, slow and patient build up from the Robins, the ball worked to Cassidy after good work between Will McCamley and Euan Anderson, Cassidy clipping the ball to Mason, who brought it down inside the area, turned and created a yard of space for himself, before looking up and slipping the ball across the face of goal to Jordan Lashley who was on hand to tap home from inside the six yard box to the relief of Robins fans and the dismay of the visitors who put up a fight right to the death.
The goal coming with virtually the last kick of the game, the visitors seconds away from a penalty shootout where anything could have happened, credit to all involved at FC Hartlepool for a great game, a side clearly capable of playing good football, able to move the ball around well and create goal scoring opportunities.
The draw for the second round sees the Robins travel to Easington Colliery with the date to be confirmed.
Next up for the Robins, the journey in this season’s FA Vase recommences as Brian Smith’s side make the trip to Green Lane to take on Redcar Athletic in the third round.
North Shields: Curran, Marrs, Lough, D Anderson, Donnelly, Harmison, McCamley, Holmes, Waldon, Carr©, Suddick.
Subs: E Anderson, Mason, Cassidy, Downey, Lashley.
Goal Scorers:
North Shields: Lashley 90’+5.
FC Hartlepool: N/A
Attendance: 118
Next Up: Redcar Athletic (A) – Saturday 7th December – 3pm – FA Vase
